Carolina Beach is part of the Wilmington area. This page covers the whole metro.
Photos and reviews come from Google Maps and show single places, not the whole area. Reviews are the most relevant ones Google returns for each place. We show the longest highly rated review under 400 characters and, when there is one, the longest low-rated review. Google doesn't verify reviews but removes fake ones when it finds them.
Around Wilmington
What Wilmington is known for
Every year
AprNorth Carolina Azalea Festival: Spring festival with gardens, parades, music and artstrailborn.com
OctWilmington Riverfest: Downtown street fair with live music and foodwilmingtonriverfest.com
Feast Wilmington: Food and beverage festival showcasing local culinary talentwilmington-nc.com
Busiest time
July: Busiest month for tourism, especially around the Fourth of Julystarnewsonline.com
On a normal week
Walking the downtown riverwalken.wikipedia.org
Visiting Wrightsville Beachen.wikipedia.org
Touring the USS North Carolina battleshipen.wikipedia.org
Visiting Cape Fear Museumen.wikipedia.org
The trail from Lake Waccamaw State Park to the dam is considered a fantastic and scenic hike.
“The trail from LWSP to the dam is fantastic, but the meandering pine trails are equally as good.”
Pine Valley in Wilmington is described as extremely family oriented, with kids able to walk to school without an HOA.
“Pine Valley, in Wilmington, is extremely family oriented as are many other areas.”
Perla Raw Bar and Kipos in the Landfall area are currently the trendiest spots with a club vibe at night.
“The 2 trendiest spots right now are Perla Raw Bar and Kipos (both kind of Landfall area).”
From 7 resident comments about meeting people and the social scene.
One resident lists several good local venues including Reggie's, Barzarre, The Palm Room, Seawitch, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, and Shaka Stage Beer Garden, plus The Sailfish in Scotts Hill.
“Reggie's, Barzarre, The Palm Room, Seawitch, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, Shaka Stage Beer Garden are good local venues. The Sailfish in Scotts Hill.”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident said sports leagues like ultimate frisbee, coed soccer, and kickball seem to be the best way to meet people in town.
“There are lots of sports options, which seem to be the best for meeting people in this town. Ultimate frisbee, coed soccer, kickball, etc. They...”
Read the full commentAbout 10 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident said they are a homebody working from home who needs reasons to get out and socialize with people closer to their age.
“I'm 59, WFH 3 days a week. I would enjoy some friends closer to my age. I'm such a homebody and need reasons to get out and be social.”
Read the full commentAbout 7 months agoOne resident said a larger metro area offers more opportunities for social and dating life than Wilmington.
“A larger metro means more opportunities for social and dating life. And it's not like you can't visit Wilmington and other coastal NC areas...”
Read the full commentAbout 6 months agoOne resident said they have had little luck meeting people in person or through dating apps since moving to town.
“So I’ve been here since 8/29 of last year but haven’t had much luck meeting people in person or on apps. I’ve been trying not to rely just on apps...”
Read the full commentAbout 4 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident finds bar dating difficult because men do not approach women there.
“hello! i am a single 24 y/o female, where the heck are people meeting people?!? it's tough at the bars because no man ever approaches you.”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoPerla Raw Bar and Kipos in the Landfall area are currently the trendiest spots with a club vibe at night.
“The 2 trendiest spots right now are Perla Raw Bar and Kipos (both kind of Landfall area). They are restaurants but have a club vibe at night.”
Read the full commentAbout a year agoOne resident listed several bars as good options for drinking and socializing.
One resident noted that Wilmington is not a bike or walk friendly city, though downtown has the best restaurants and nightlife.
“Wilmington is NOT a bike/walk friendly city. The best for restaurants and nightlife is downtown. There is plenty to do, a lot of good...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.One resident feels the community has become more passive and judgmental compared to how welcoming it was ten years ago.
“10 years ago, everyone was so cool, down to vibe, chat, share, etc. It just now feels so passive and judgmental, like everyone is running from...”
Read the full commentAbout 2 years agoOne resident thinks Wilmington lacks a clear identity or culture, describing it as a jack of all trades town.
“The short answer is it doesn't really have an exact identity or culture. It's kind of a jack of all trades town. Its not a true college town,...”
Read the full commentAbout 3 years ago. Things may have changed since.Recent stories from local outlets. Tap a headline to read it.
About 1,353 business locations in the Wilmington area, employing about 29,237 people. That's 0.8 times the U.S. share, so this field is a smaller part of the local economy than usual.
U.S. Census County Business Patterns, 2023. Counts business locations with paid employees, not job openings.
A veteran transitioning out of the military with a recruiting background is weighing a move back to the area for work.
“I’m getting ready to transition out of the military and move back to the area (I left back in 2017). Most of my recent experience is in recruiting...”
Read the full commentAbout 7 months agoPick a month. A dot means residents talked about that time of year.
No resident has talked about October yet.
One commenter enjoys the beach and finds the weather pleasant year round as an entrepreneur.
“I really like living in Wilmington, I love the beach and I find the weather to be pretty decent year round. I'm an entrepreneur so have made my...”
Read the full commentAbout 10 months agoThe trail from Lake Waccamaw State Park to the dam is considered a fantastic and scenic hike.
“Lake Waccamaw is Eastern NC's best kept secret. The trail from LWSP to the dam is fantastic, but the meandering pine trails are equally as good.”
Read the full commentAbout 6 years ago. Things may have changed since.Perla Raw Bar and Kipos in the Landfall area are currently the trendiest spots with a club vibe at night.
“The 2 trendiest spots right now are Perla Raw Bar and Kipos (both kind of Landfall area). They are restaurants but have a club vibe at night.”
Read the full commentAbout a year ago“One resident listed several bars as good options for drinking and socializing.”
“It's expensive, there's nothing to do unless you like drinking”
What's nearby
Within 5 miles of the center of the Wilmington area.
Counts from OpenStreetMap, a volunteer map, so small or new places can be missing. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
Biking and trails
Within 5 miles of the center of the Wilmington area.
Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Counts depend on how well local volunteers have mapped the area, so treat them as a rough guide.
What rent costs
Of about 51,872 rented homes in the Wilmington area, 88% rent for under $2,000 a month and 98% for under $3,000.
Census American Community Survey 2019 to 2023 (table B25063). Gross rent includes utilities the renter pays. Today's asking rents for open apartments usually run higher.
What moving costs
Average cost: $1,946
From a 2025 survey of 1,000 people who hired movers. This Old House. Your quote depends on your stuff, stairs and the time of year.
The middle rented home in the Wilmington area rents for $1,000 to $1,499 a month. First month plus a one-month deposit comes to about $2,000 to $2,998 before you get the keys.
Estimate from Census rent data (2019 to 2023, rent plus tenant-paid utilities). Deposits and fees vary by landlord and state law.
Your first weeks in North Carolina
- Forward your mail: USPS change of address. It costs about $1 online to confirm who you are.
- Switch your driver's license and car registration. Each state sets its own deadline, often somewhere between 10 days and a few months after you move. Find the North Carolina DMV.
- Register to vote at your new address: North Carolina voter registration.
- Set up power, gas, water and trash. Some cities bill water and trash together, and some ask new customers for a deposit.
- Update your address with your bank, employer, insurance and the IRS (Form 8822 if you're not filing soon).
- Find a doctor and dentist early. New-patient waits can be weeks, even in big cities.
Public schools
2 public school districts in this county, with about 25,459 students in all. Which one serves a home depends on its address.
NCES Common Core of Data 2022-23, National Center for Education Statistics. Varro doesn't rate or rank schools. For test results and programs, see each district's site and your state's school report card.
Childcare and colleges
North Carolina keeps an official list of licensed childcare, with inspection reports and openings in many states. In a lot of towns, infant spots fill up months ahead, so it helps to get on waitlists before you move.
| Age | Daycare center | Home daycare |
|---|---|---|
| Infant (under 2) | $223/week about $11,600 a year | $184/week about $9,600 a year |
| Toddler (2) | $173/week about $9,000 a year | |
| Preschool (3 to 4) | $134/week about $7,000 a year | $157/week about $8,200 a year |
| School-age | $135/week about $7,000 a year |
For an infant at a center: $223/week here, $220 across NC, $259 across the U.S.. Full-time infant care at a center here costs about 12% of a typical family's income. These are 2022 prices, the newest the government has published by county, and prices have gone up since.
3 colleges in the county and the wider metro around Wilmington. Prices are yearly tuition and fees for full-time undergrads, before financial aid.
Moving for school? Public colleges charge state residents much less, and community colleges often charge even less to people who live in their district. Most states want you to have lived there about 12 months, for reasons other than school, before you count as a resident for tuition. The rules differ by state, so check with the college's registrar.
IPEDS 2023-24, National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS). Degree-granting public and nonprofit schools with 100+ students. Varro doesn't rank colleges.